Attachment for gas governors



June 10, 1,930. F. P. SMITH ATTACHMENT FOR GAS GOVERNORS Filed April 29. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .lime 1o, 1930. F, P, SMITH 1,163,376

ATTACHMENT FOR GAS GOVERNORS Filed April 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V l l 1 l l A WMM /xv VEN 70K.' Have/waff. 5mn-H,

BY f

I l l',

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 10,1930

Utr earns PATENT ortica` FREDERICK 1?. SMITH, OF GLASSBORO, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES N. PAFF, OF GLEN LAKE, NEW JERSEY ATTACHMENT FOR GAS GOVERNORS' Application led April 29, 1929.

My invention relates to a new and useful attachment for gas governors of the general type employed for controlling and regulating the flow of gas preliminary to its flow through 5 a conventional gas meter which is interposed between the source of supply and the point of use or consumption.

My invention further `relates to an attach-` ment for gas governors of this general character which, in addition tov controlling and regulating the iiow of gas to the desired volume is also adapted to stop the flow of gas entirely, when the consumption'of the gas partially or completely stepped, thereby eliminating all danger of explosion due to an accumulationof unconsumed gas, and at the same time preventing Waste of the gas.

` My invention further relates to an attachimpart to `the latter certain novel advantageous functions and attributes not heretofore possessed or accomplished thereby eliminating the necessity of totally discarding governors already installed and rendering the advantages of my novel invention attainable at a minimum cost.

To the above ends my invention consists of a casing having a gas inlet leading from a source of supply, and a gas outlet leading through a gas` meter to a point of consumption, there being free communication between said inlet and outlet, a diaphragm transversely dividing said casing into upper andV lower compartments, a pipe leading from the lower of said compartments to the atmosphere, a fluid in said pipe for normally sealing said lower compartment from the atmosphere, a pipe leading from the upper of said compartments to the atmosphere and having tional gas governors already in actual use to'` Serial No. 358,772.

its lower free end juxtaposed to the free end of said first mentioned pipe, the fluid in said first mentioned pipe being adapted to be ejected therefrom by the increase of pressure in said lower compartment into the pipe leading from said upper compartment to seal the latter from the atmosphere.

My invention further consists of an attachment embodying the foregoing advantageous features which is adapted to be installed upon governors of conventional construction already in actual use and operation.

My invention still further consists of various other novel features of construction and advantage all as hereinafter described and claimed.

F or the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings several forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organizationA of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure l, represents a vertical sectional view of a governor embodying my invention certain part-s being shown in elevation.

Figure 2, represents a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation of an attachment adapted to be installed on governors in actual present use to impart to the latter the advantages possessed by the novel construction shown in Figure l.

Figure 3, represents a view in elevation, showing another modification ofmy invention appliedto a conventional governor already in use.

Figures, represents a` fragmentary view partly in section and part-ly in elevation showing a modified form of the attachment shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5, represents a fragmentary view of the left hand portion of Figure 1 illustrating the use of another modification of my invention. i

Referring to Figure l of the drawings ably secured or assembled as at 4. 5 desig-` which illustrates a novel governor` construction embodying my invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts, 1 designates the governor casing which is composed of the-bottom 2 and the top 3, suitnates a-gas inlet leading from a sourceof supply (not shown) and 6 designates a .gas

outlet leading to a point of consumption through a 'conventional *meter (not shown). 7 designates a cap secured to the outer walls of the inlet and outlet 6 at 8. lh `lt5i v"l 'tl U41 l'- ine 1n e is product w1 A1a siapec en ltension 9 which is provided with the port 10 which is controlled by the valve 11 adjustablycarried at one end of the lever V12 which is fulcrunied at 13, and the other end off which is pivoted to the bracket 14at 15;

The bottom wall of the U-shapcd extension- 9 ofthe inlet 5 is spaced'from the juxtaposed wall of the cap 7 to form a channel 16 for the reception of foreign matter which may be carried by the gas passing through the port 10 and which may be precipitated therefrom lue toa decrease in the velocity of the gas. i8 designa-tesa diaphragm which is clamped betweenthe bottom disc 19 carried by the bracket 14 and the upper disc-20 said discs being secured bythe screw 21 or its equivalent. 23 designates a spring which extends upwardly through the air tight boss 24 and the tension of which is regulated by the set screw 25, said spring being adapted normally to urge the diaphragm 18 downwardly. The diaphragm 18 is flexible and lags at 26 to peru mit of upward and downwardmovement in a manner hereinafter described. 28 designates a cap like member which is secured to the casing Y1 at 29, by threading or in any other suitable manner, and which is provided with the outlet 30 leading to the atmosphere. 31 designates a U-shaped tube the upper end 32 of which communicates with` the lower compartment 33 formed below the diaphragm 18, While the other end 34 thereof is deflected downwardly as at The tube 31 contains a predetermined quantity of mercury or other liquid 37 and is provided with the upper inlet 38 closed by the cap 39V and with a bottom drain outlet closed by the nut or plug 41. Within the cap 28 is another U-shaped tube 44 the upper end'45 of one limb of which communicates with the upper compartmentY 46 formed above the Vdiaphragm 18, while the upper end of the other limb thereof is formed into a funnel 48. The tube 44 is provided'with a bottom drain outlet `which is closed by the nut or plug 50 and with the'vent 51 which will be hereinafter further referred to. Y

i? sumption. 1f the consumption of the gas is Vlowered by the spring 23 and by the pressure of the atmosphere withwhich the compartment 46 above said diaphragm communicates, hereby `raising the valve 11 to open the port l 10 to permit the furtherow of gas through the inlet 5 and the outlet 6, in the usual manner.

' To take care of leaks or defects in the valve 11, it has heretofore 4been lthe practice to provide the compartment-33 with a safety valve arrangement which permitted the escape of gas accumulated in the compartment when the-pressure reached arpredetermined limit, thus guarding against the occurrence of explosions, (see Smith Patent No. 1,499,885, Gaun-t et al. No. 1,626,581 and others). The disadvantage of'this practice, which it is the primary object of my invention to remedy, resided in the fact that when the pressure of the gas in the compartment 33 was relieved (by the escape-of the accu1nulated gas' therein into the atmosphere) the diaphragm 18 was lowered (bythe spring 23 and the pressure of the atmosphere) and the valve 11 raised, thereby full-y opening the port 1"0 and Ypermitting the free flow of gas into the compartment 33. This resulted in the rapid refilling ofthe compartment with gas, which in turn escaped into the atmosphere wheneverthe pressure in said compartment reached the limit to which the device is adjusted.

`By my construction (see left hand portion Figll') when the pressure of the gas within Vthe compartment 33 has reached the limit to which the device is adjusted, the mercury 37 is ejected from the tube 31 into the tube 44 thus sealing the latter and allowing the escape ofthe gas from the compartment 33 through the tube 31 to the atmosphere through the outlet 30. Due to the partial vacuum thus created in the compartment (bythe raising of the diaphragm 18 by the `pressure of gas in the compartment 33) and by sealin the tube44 to shut off the compartment 46 rom the atmosphere, the diaphragm 18 vis maintained in its upper position, therebymai'ntaining the valve 11 in its lower position to close the port 10. In this position of the parts the rflow of gas into the compartment 33 is determined by the size of the leak in the valve 11, as compared with the flow of gas through the fully opened port 10 as would be the case were the diaphragm lowered and the-valve 11 raised, as in theprior art constructons referred to.

f Furthermore, in this condition of the parts,

and until the leak in the valve 11 shall have been repaired, there is free communication between the compartment 33 and the atmosphere, through the tube 31 and the outlet 36, and the gas that flows past the leaky valve il escapes into the atmosphere with no rislr or danger of exposition and without the aid et any safety valve arrangements. 'Ihus by providingthe tubes 3l and 44 communicating with the compartments 33 and 46 respectively and by ejecting the mercury 37 from the tube 3l to the tube 44, I provide a vent for the compartment `33 to permit the escape of accumulated therein into the atmosphere, and I seal the compartment 46 Yfrom the atmosphere to maintain a partial vacuue'i which tends to retain the diaphragm 13 in its upper position and the valve il in its lower closing position, thus reducing the amount oi" gas flowing into the compartment 33 to the minimum amount flowing past a leahy valve l1 in lieu of the volume of gas which would normally flow through the port l when the latter is fully opened by the raising ol the valve 1l.

In order to guard against the undue and undesired sealing of the compartment 46 and the consequent permanent retention ot' the diaphragm 13 in its upper position and ot valve ll in its lower closing position, I provide the vent 51 in the tube 44. ihus it the gas pressure in the compartment Vshot-Lid become excessive, but not suiiiciently so, to

j justify or warrant the permanent closing ot the valve 1l, and only a part of the mercury 37 is ejected into the tube 44, the compartment 46 is provided with communication with the atmosphere through the vent l, so that,

i when the temporary congestion ofthe gas in Eil the compartment 33 has been relieved, the diaphragm 18 may still be lowered to open the valve l1, and is `not locked in its upper position. In other worc s, by the provision of the vent 5l, it is necessary that all the mercury 37 should be ejected Jfrom the tube` 3i to the tube 44 (which can take place only when the pressure in the compartment 33 is such as to warrant permanent closing` of valve il) before the compartment 46 is shut trom the atmosphere to maintain the diaphragm 13 in its upper position and tle valve ll in its lower closing position.

The mercury 37 ejected into the tube may be drained therefrom by removino' the k3 nut 50, and is then poured into the tube form ot the parts shown in Figure l, wherein I employ a cap 53, (in lieu ot the cap 23) which is carried by or secured to the boss or collar 54 which has the outlet 55 leading to the atmosphere and which is provided with the nipple 56 which may be threaded into the lower compartment 33 of a governor casing l ot the construction seen in Figure l its equivalent. In the cap 53 is the 'il-shaped tube 57 which is provided with the upper inlet lclosed by the plug 53 and which communicates with the nipple 56 leadingto the compart1nent`33 as at 59. The tube 57 has a quantity oit mercury 37 which serves to seal the compartment 33 in the manner herein before described. 60 designates a tube which is connected at its lower end to the upper compartment 46 ot a governor casing l, and the upper end of which communicates with :he tube 6l in the cap 53 at 63. In this contruction when the pressure in the compartnent 33 is excessive, the mercury 37 is ejected rom the tube 57 into the bottom ot' the cap 3 to seal the lower end 64 of the tube 6l, 'inereby maintaining a `partial vacuum in the upper compartment 46 above the diaphragm i3, with which the lower end ot' the tube 60 communicates, to maintain said diaphragm in ,its upper raised position and the valve Yl in its lower closed position in the same manner as described in connection with ure l and tor the same purpose. rlhe atattachment shown in Figure 2 is adapted for installation upon governors already in actual use to impart thereto the advantageous features ot the construction shown in Figure l. In this construction, the clearance between the bottom end 64 of the tube 6l and the bottom 62 ot the cap 53 serves the purpose served by the vent 5l in the construction shown in Figure l to prevent the undue or unwarranted sealing of the tube 6l and the compartment 46, when only a small amount ot' the mercury 37 is ejected from the tube 57 due to slight temporary congestion of the gas in the compartment 33.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a 'further modification of my invention, wherein I attach a tube 66 to the upper compartment 46 in the governor casing l, said tube being provided with the U-shaped portion 67 which has the vent 63, the bottomdra .i plug 69 and the receiving tunnel 70. 7l designates a tube connected to the outlet 72 leading from the lower compartiment of the casing l, at 73, `said tube being provided with the U- sl iped portion 7 4. rIhe function and operag tion o this construction is substantially the samev as that hercinbetore described in that the pressure in the lower compartment ot the casing l ejects the mercury (not shown) from the tube 74 into the tube 67 to seal the upper compartment trom the atmosphere, thereby to retain the diaphragm 13 (not shown) in its upper position and the valve 1l (not shown) in its lower closing position. "The vent V68 serves the same function hereinbefore described and need not be further dwelled refe ence Vto Figures l and 3. in' .Figure 5 l iave shown a fragmentary view of the left hand portion of Figure l, provided with a further modified form of ny invention, wherein the tube 3l discharges its mer ury into the cupk S3 which is pivoted at 84 and which when weighted by the mercury Vdischarged thcreinto from the tube il is depressed to raise the stopper 85 to close ine betteln of the tube 86 the upper end 87 of which communicateswith the upper chamber 46 of the casing l, the function of this modification being rident-ical with that heretofore described in connection with Figure l. ln this construction the cup 83 is so ad justed that no closing oi the tube 86 ta res place until the entire amount of mercury shall have been ejected thereinto from ne tube 3l thus guarding against undue sealg of the compartment 46 in the same maner as desc 1ired in connection with the vent 'l heretofore fully described. .Y

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departfrom the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and l therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered'in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is zl.. An attachment for a gas governor including a casing, a diaphragm therein dividing said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a valved inlet for said lower compartment, and an outlet for said lower compartment comprising, a U-shaped outlet leading from said lower compartment tothe atmosphere, a liquid in said U-shaped outlet normally sealing said lower compartment from the atmosphere, and

l a second U-shaped outlet leading from said upper compartment to the atmosphere, the free end of said second UV-shaped' outlet being so positioned with reference to the free Y end of said first U-shaped outlet as to receive the liouid ejected from the latter due to an s on of this i iodificatio-n can be understood byj increase in pressure in said lower compartment to provide an outlet Yfor said lower compartment and 'to seal said upper compartment fromthe atmosphere.

2. An attachmentfor a gas governor including a casing, a diaphragm therein dividing vsaid casing into anupper compartment and Va lower compartment, a valved inlet for said lower compartment, and an outlet for said lowerVV compartment comprising, a U-shaped outlet leadingfrom said lower compartment to the atmosphere, a liquid in saidv U-shaped outlet normally sealing said lower compartment from the atmosphere, a second U- shaped outlet leading from said upperl compartment to the atmosphere, the free end of said second U-shaped outlet being so positioned with reference to the free end of said first U-shaped outlet as to receive the liquid ejected from the latter due to an increase in pressure in said lower compartment toprovide an outlet for said lower compartment and to seal said upper compartment from the atmosphere, and a vent for said second U-shaped outlet to prevent the sealing of said upper compartment when only a portion of said liquid is ejected from said first U-shaped outlet.

3. An attachment for a gas governor in-V cluding a casing, a movable diaphragm therein dividing said casing into two compartments, a valved inlet for one of said com partments, and an outlet therefor, comprising a conduit leading from said compartment to the atmosphere, a fiuid in said conduit, and `a second conduit leading from the second of said compartments to the atmosphere, the fluid in said first conduit being adapted to be ejected into said second conduit when the pressure in said first compartment reaches a predetermined limit, to provide an Outlet for said first compartment and to seal said second compartment from the atmosphere.

' 4. Anattachment for a gas governor including a casing, a movable diaphragm there- Ain dividing said casing into two compartments, a valved inletfor one of said compartments, and an outlet therefor, comprising a conduit leading from said compartments to theatmosphere, a fluid in said conduit, a second conduit leading from the second of said compartments to the atmosphere, the fluid in said first conduit being adapted to be ejected into said second conduit when the pressure in said first compartment reaches a predetermined limit, to provide an outlet for said first compartment and to seal said second compartment from the atmosphere, and a vent for said second conduit tube to prevent the sealing of said second compartment from the atmosphere when only a part of said liquid has been ejected from said first conduit. Y

5. An attachment for a gasgovernor includingacasing, a diaphragm therein di- `viding said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a gas inlet and a gas outlet for said lower compartment, said diaphragm being adapted to be moved by the change of pressure in said compartments, and a valve for said gas inlet actuated by the movement of said diaphragm, comprising a conduit for said lower compartment leading to the atmosphere, a liquid in said conduit normally to seal said lower compartment from the atmosphere, a second conduit leading from saidupper compartment to the atmosphere, said conduits being so ar-v ranged that an increase of `pressure in said lower compartment will eject said liquid from said first conduit into said second conduit to provide a vent for said lower compartment and to seal said `upper compartment from the atmosphere to prevent movement of said diaphragm.

6. An attachment for a gas governor including a casing a movable diaphragm therein dividing said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a gas .1 inlet and a gas outlet communicating with said lower compartment, and a valve for said inlet operated by said diaphragm, comprising a conduit leading from said lower compartment to the atmosphere, a liquid in said i conduit normally to seal said lower compartment from the atmosphere, and a second conduit leading from said upper compartment to the atmosphere, the free end of said second conduit being positioned below the free end of said first conduit to receive the fluid ejected from said first conduit by an increase of gas pressure in said lower compartment.

7. An attachment for a gas governor ini cluding a casing, a movable diaphragm therein dividing said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, agas inlet and a gas outletcommunicating with saidlower compartment, and a valve for said inlet operated by said diaphragm, comprising a conduit leading from said lower compartment to the atmosphere, a liquid in said conduit normally to seal said lower compartment from the atmosphere, a second conduit leading from said upper compartment to the atmosphere, the free endof said second conduit being positioned below the free end of said first conduit to receive the fluid ejected from said first conduit by an increase of gas pressure in said lower compartment, and a vent for said second conduit intermediate said upper compartment and the free end of said conduit.

8. An attachment for a gas governor including a casing, a movable diaphragm therein dividing said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a .gas inlet for said lower compartment, a valve for controlling said inlet operated by said diaphragm, and a gas outlet for said lower Compartment comprising a U-shaped tube having one limb thereof communicating with said lower compartment and the other limb thereof leadinglto the atmosphere, a liquid in the bottom connecting portion of said U- shaped tube normally to seal said lower compartment from the atmosphere, and a second lil-shaped tube having one limb thereof Communie-ating with said upper compartment and the other limb thereof positioned below the free end of said first U-shaped tube, to receive the liquid ejected from said first U-shaped tube due to an increase of pressure in said lower compartment.

`9. An attachment for a gas governor including a casing, a movable diaphragm therein dividing said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a gas inlet for said lower compartment, a valve for controlling said inlet operated by said diaphragm, and a gas outlet for said lower j -f compartment, comprising a U-shaped 'tube having one limb thereof communicating with said lower compartment and the other limb thereof leading to the atmosphere, a liquid in the bottom connecting portion of said U- shaped tube normally to seal said lower compartment from the atmosphere, a second U- shaped tube having one limb thereof communicating with said upper compartment and the other limb thereof positioned below the free end of said first U-shaped tube, to receive the liquid ejected from said first U- sliaped tube due to an increase of pressure in said lower compartment, anda vent for said second U-shapedtube positioned above the bottom connecting portion thereof.

10. An attachment for a gas governor including a casing, a diaphragm therein dividing said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said diaphragm being vertically movable with the change of pressure in said compartments, a gas inlet and a gas outlet for said lower compartment, and a valve for said inlet adapted to be actuated by the movement of said diaphragm, comprising a conduit leading from said lower compartment to the atmosphere, a liquid in said conduit normally to seal said lower compartment from the atmosphere, and a second conduit leading from said upper compartment to the atmosphere, the free end of said second conduit being adapted to be sealed when said liquid is ejected from said first conduit due to an increase of pressure in said lower compartment from the atmosphere and prevent the movement of said diaphragm.

11. An attachment for a gas governor including a casing, a diaphragm therein dividing said casing into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said diaphragm being vertically movable with the change of pressure in said compartments, a gas inlet and a gas outlet for said lower compartment, and a valve for said inlet adapted to be actuated by the movement of said diaphragm,

6 Y Y 1,163,376 v comprising a conduit leading from said lower compartment to the atmosphere, a liquid' in said conduit normally'toseal said lower compartment from the atmosphere, a, second conduit leading from said upper'compartment tothe atmosphere, the free endrof said second conduit being adapted to be sealed when said liquid is ejected from said rst conduit due to an increase of pressure n said lower com- 10 partmengto sea said upper. compartment fromrthe atmosphere" and prevent the movement of said diaphragm, and means to prevent the sealing of Said upper compartment .when only a portion of said lqu'idis ejected V from said first conduit.v

, FREDERICK `P. SMTH. 

